A Catholic private school teacher in Abbotsford has been disciplined for failing to tell authorities after she learned her husband sent sexual messages to a student.

Sandra Careen’s teaching license has been suspended for five months by the B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch for keeping quiet about her husband sexting a student. That’s five times the penalty handed down by the Catholic independent school board.

Martin and Sandra Careen were both teachers at St. John Brebeuf Secondary.

In a statement at Martin Careen's sentencing, the 17-year-old victim said she was vilified by people who accused her of lying to police.

But according to the regulation branch's recent ruling, the student approached Sandra Careen days after her husband sent the messages.

Careen was the student’s homeroom teacher. The student said she had received graphic messages — first refusing to say from whom and then admitting it was Martin Careen.

But Sandra Careen didn't tell the administration or authorities.

The branch says she also counselled her husband to keep quiet, saying it would be in the student's best interest for him to "let it go.”

Sandra Careen will be able to teach again next February.

Martin Careen was ultimately sentenced to 60 days in jail for sexual exploitation.